Swaddling accessory apparatus and method for securing an infant&#39;s arms

ABSTRACT

A swaddling accessory ( 100 ) comprised of elongate flexible material ( 102 ) divided into a left wing ( 110 L) and a right wing ( 110 R), the elongate flexible material ( 102 ) having attached hook and loop components ( 104 HL,  104 HR,  104 LC,  104 LL). The swaddling accessory ( 100 ) secures the babies arms by: placing the infant ( 100 B) on the swaddling accessory ( 100 ); weaving the left wing ( 110 L) between the right arm ( 100 BR) and the torso ( 100 BT), then passing the left wing ( 110 L) around the right arm ( 100 BR); repeating a similar weaving with the left arm ( 100 BL) and the right wing ( 110 R); and then securing the left wing ( 110 L) and right wing ( 110 R) at the back of the infant with hook and loop fasteners installed on the elongate flexible material ( 102 ). The swaddling accessory may be used with a swaddling cloth. Several embodiments and variations are presented, including an embodiment with a capability of securing either one arm or two arms, and an embodiment constructed out of two removably attachable pieces of flexible material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/278,477 filed Oct. 7, 2009 by the present inventor.This provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention refers to apparatus used to swaddle babies; moreparticularly to accessories that may be used with swaddling cloths,swaddling blankets and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

The age-old practice of swaddling is a method of wrapping babies ingarments of various materials and styles. Studies have shown that thebenefits of swaddling include a reduction in sudden infant deathsyndrome (SIDS) as well as improved sleep habits. Unfortunately, thereis a safety concern associated with swaddling. This issue relates tosecuring an infant's arms in an effective manner to avoid the armswriggling out of the swaddle. If the infant's arms are not properlysecured, there is a risk of the swaddle garment moving upwards towardsthe infant's face if the infant attempts to free the infant's hands.This is a serious concern, as no swaddle garment should cover aninfant's face. In some instances, the infant's arms are simply toostrong to hold in its swaddle. In other instances, parents may havedifficulty mastering the unique swaddling technique. Many swaddlegarments also pose a challenge of holding infant's arms in place due tothe lightweight fabric that is often used. All of these issues may becompounded. It is common for parents who experience these challenges tosimply abandon swaddling their babies altogether for fear of theirchild's safety. Therefore there is a need for securing an infant's armsin a fail-safe manner when using a swaddling cloth.

SUMMARY Technical Problem

The problem is to secure the arms of an infant in a fail-safe mannerwhen used with a swaddling cloth.

Solution to Problem

The swaddling accessory presented herein solves the problem of securingthe arms of an infant in a fail-safe manner when used with a swaddlingcloth or used to assist a health care provider while examining aninfant. In a first embodiment, the swaddling accessory is constructedfrom a single piece of elongate flexible material such as, but notlimited to, a knitted cloth. The elongate flexible material has attachedhook and loop fasteners. It is designed and configured so that theinfant is placed on the flexible material with the longitudinal axis ofthe cloth traverse to the infant's torso. Then a first end of theswaddling accessory is placed between the infant's first arm and torso,then over the first arm. Similarly; the second end of the swaddlingaccessory goes between the infant's second arm and torso, then over thesecond arm. The two ends of the swaddling accessory are then secured tothe back of the elongate flexible material using the hook and loopfasteners. The swaddling accessory secures the infant's arms in asufficiently snug way so the infant's arms cannot be raised or movedaway from the infant's torso. A swaddling cloth may then be put aroundthe infant, over the swaddling accessory, in the usual manner ofsecuring a swaddling cloth to an infant. The swaddling accessory isdesigned so it adjusts to the infant as the infant grows. It may bemanufactured in several sizes to accommodate various sizes of babies.Furthermore, the amount of snugness may be adjusted to determine theamount of movement the infant is allowed. The swaddling accessory mayalso be used without the swaddling cloth in assisting a health careprovider while examining an infant. Additional embodiments are included,including one that allows the swaddling accessory to constrain only onearm of the infant as well as two arms. The swaddling cloth is not partof the invention.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

What is novel about this invention is that it is an accessory that workswith, but is independent of, most swaddling blankets and cloths. Theswaddling accessory secures the infant's arms from being raised or fromgetting free of the swaddling cloth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a back view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of a first step of putting the firstembodiment of the present invention on an infant.

FIG. 2B illustrates a front view of a second step of putting the firstembodiment of the present invention on an infant.

FIG. 2C illustrates a front view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention when secured on an infant.

FIG. 3A illustrates a cross section of FIG. 2C when the first embodimentsecures the arms of a moderately sized infant.

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross section of FIG. 2C when the first embodimentsecures the arms of a small infant.

FIG. 4A illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention madefrom two sections of elongate flexible material.

FIG. 4B illustrates a cross section of FIG. 2C for the second embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of preparing to put on a swaddlingcloth after the first embodiment of the present invention is secured onan infant.

FIG. 5B illustrates a front view of the swaddling cloth wrapped on aninfant after the first embodiment of the present invention is secured onan infant.

FIG. 6A illustrates a front view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention designed to secure either one or two arms of an infant.

FIG. 6B illustrates a sectional view of the third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6C illustrates a front view of the third embodiment of the presentinvention securing one arm of an infant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In this detailed description and the appended claims, terms such asleft, right, bottom and top refer to the figure where the reference isfirst introduced. The exception to the terminology is made whenreferring to an infant's left arm and right arm; where the usual meaningapplies. The term swaddling cloth refers to any blanket, cloth or othergarment that is used for swaddling an infant. The terms front and backrefer to the front and back of the swaddling accessory when the infantis lying on the swaddling accessory. The term hook component and loopcomponent refer to components of a hook and loop pair of removableattachment means such as, but not limited to VELCRO brand hook and loopfasteners. Two hook and loop pairs may have share a single component.The same numeral is used to refer to a specific item in differentfigures if it refers to the same physical item, independent of thefigure's view. The term flexible material refers to a cloth or otherfabric or material suitable for use in swaddling an infant.

FIGS. 1A and 1B refer to a first embodiment 100 of the presentinvention. FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of the first embodiment 100,looking at it from the front while it is positioned on a surface such asa floor or bed. First embodiment 100 is comprised of an elongate pieceof an elongate flexible material 102 having a left wing 110L and a rightwing 110R. The elongate flexible material 102 has one piece of centerloop component 104LC and two pieces of hook component, left hookcomponent 104HL and right hook component 104HR attached to the back ofthe elongate flexible material 102; and one piece of left loop component104LL attached to the front of the elongate flexible material 102. Thecenter loop component 104LC is positioned on the back of the elongateflexible material 102 centered on the elongate flexible material 102 soit is bisected by the vertical axis 100V. The left loop component 104LLis positioned on the front of the elongate flexible material 102 on theleft side towards the left end 108L: the right hook component 104HR ispositioned on the front of the elongate flexible material 102 on theright side towards the right end 108R. The left hook component 104HL ispositioned on the back of the elongate flexible material 102 on the leftside towards the left end 108L. All the hook and loop components, centerloop component 104LC, left hook component, 104HL, right hook component104HR, and left loop component 104LL are positioned centered on thehorizontal axis 100H located midway between the top and bottom of theelongate flexible material 102.

FIG. 1B shows the back of first embodiment 100. The same numerals usedin FIG. 1A apply to FIG. 1B.

FIGS. 2A through 2C illustrate an overview of the steps involved inwrapping the first embodiment of the present invention on an infantwhile FIGS. 3A and 3B give a cross section view of first embodiment 100when wrapped on a moderately sized infant and a small infantrespectively. Referring to FIG. 2A, the first step is to place theelongate flexible material 102 on a flat horizontal surface such as afloor or a bed with the front of the elongate flexible material 102facing upward and the cloth extended with the horizontal axis 100H goingfrom left to right. The infant 100B is then placed on elongate flexiblematerial 102 facing front with the infant's back lying on elongateflexible material 102. The infant is positioned so the bottom edge ofthe elongate flexible material 102 is just above the infant's wrist andthe infant is centered on the elongate flexible material 102.

FIG. 2B shows the second step. The left wing 110L of elongate flexiblematerial 102 is placed between the torso 100BT of the infant and theright arm 100BR and then extended over the right arm 100BR toward theleft. The right wing 110R of elongate flexible material 102 is placedbetween the torso 100BT of the infant and left arm 100BL, then extendedover the left arm 100BL, and extended to the right.

The third step, also discussed later with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B,is performed as follows: The left wing 110L is then placed to the backof elongate flexible material 102; the right wing 110R is then placed tothe back of elongate flexible material 102; and the two wings 110R and110L are secured to the back of elongate flexible material 102 so thatthat the left arm 102BL and right arm 102BR are secured snugly.

FIG. 2C illustrates a front view of first embodiment 100 when wrapped onthe infant with the arms snugly secured at the sides of the torso 100BT.The specific details illustrating how first embodiment 100 secures theinfant's arms are illustrated in the cross section views of FIGS. 3A and3B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show two methods for securing first embodiment 100 onthe infant. Both FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross section of FIG. 2C. FIG. 3Aillustrates how first embodiment 100 is wrapped on a moderate sizedinfant while FIG. 3B shows how first embodiment 100 is wrapped on asmall infant. Refer now to FIG. 3A. With the infant's back lying on thefront side of first embodiment 100, the left wing 110L of firstembodiment 100 is threaded between the right arm 100BR of the infant andtorso 100BT, then around the front of the right arm 100BR of the infantand then under the infant. The left end 108L is then pulled firmly tothe right under the infant's back so the right arm 100BR of the infantis held snugly. The left hook component 104HL is then attached to theleft side of the center loop component 104LC. This secures the infant'sright arm.

The left arm 100BL of the infant is secured similarly. The right wing110R of first embodiment 100 is threaded between the left arm 100BL ofthe infant and torso 100BT, then around the front of the left arm 100BLof the infant and then under the infant. The right end 108R is pulledfirmly to the left under the infant's back so the left arm 100BL of theinfant is held snugly. The right hook component 1041-1R is then attachedto the right side of the center loop component 104LC. This secures theinfant's left arm.

FIG. 3B illustrates how first embodiment 100 is attached to an infantthat is smaller then the infant illustrated in FIG. 3A. The left wing110L of first embodiment 100 is wrapped around the infant's right arm inthe same manner as described for FIG. 3A. The right wing of firstembodiment 100 is also wrapped around the infant's left arm as describedfor FIG. 3A, but with one difference. The right hook component 104HR isattached to the left loop component 104LL. This secures both of theinfant's arms. It is therefore seen that first embodiment 100 canaccommodate the infant as she grows in size. FIG. 3B accommodates asmall infant while FIG. 3A accommodates a larger infant.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a second embodiment 200 of the presentinvention. FIG. 4A has the same design as FIG. 1A with the followingwing differences. Second embodiment 200 is divided into two wingsvertically, separating them into approximately two halves, a left wing110L and a right wing 110R. The left wing 110L has a left side hookcomponent 204HL attached to the back near the edge 202L; and the rightwing 1108 has right side loop component 204LR attached to the front ofthe right wing 110R near the edge 202R. The center loop component 104LCof first embodiment 100 is replaced by two loop components 206LL and206LR.

FIG. 4B is a cross section of second embodiment 200 as illustrated inFIG. 2C. The left wing 110L and right wing 110R are joined with theright side hook component 204HR attached to the left side loop component204LL. Once these two wings are attached, securing the infant withembodiment two is done in the same manner as embodiment one. The primaryadvantage of embodiment two is that after the appropriate sizing is doneonce, the two wings can stay attached and both arms can easily besecured in subsequent uses of this embodiment without having to reachbehind and/or around the infant as compared to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 5A through 5D illustrate the use of first embodiment 100 togetherwith an infant blanket 112 used as a swaddling cloth. FIG. 5A indicatedfirst embodiment 100, positioned diagonally on a flat horizontalsurface. FIG. 5B indicates the top corner 114 of the infant blanketfolded down. FIG. 5C indicated laying the infant 100B on the infantblanket 112, the top crease 116 of the blanket level with the infant'sneck, with first embodiment 100 already secured on the infant. FIG. 5Dindicates the infant blanket 112 wrapped around the infant 100B, thewrapping done in the usual manner.

FIGS. 6A through 6C illustrate a third embodiment 300 of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 6A, third embodiment 300 modifies firstembodiment 100 by having a piece of additional right hook component302HR positioned on the right side of the front of first embodiment 100.Third embodiment 300 permits the swaddling cloth to be used in the sameway as first embodiment 100. However, it also allows third embodiment300 to be used as a one-arm swaddling cloth.

FIG. 6B illustrates a sectional view of third embodiment 300 as it isused as a swaddling accessory securing only one arm. Third embodiment300 swaddles an infant torso BT and left arm 100BL of infant whilekeeping the right arm 100BR free. FIG. 6C illustrates third embodiment300 as used with an infant. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, additional righthook component 302HR engages left loop component 104LL in a manner thatkeeps left arm 100BL of the infant free. The location and configurationof the components of third embodiment 300 are determined so that thirdembodiment 300 functions as indicated.

The one arm swaddle of third embodiment 300 assists parents with weaningtheir infant off the swaddle blanket. One-arm swaddling is a fairlytypical approach to this transition. The challenge with this is similarto the challenge with swaddling in general; babies often work their wayout of them. Parents are highly motivated to keep their infant's armssecured for as long as they can because of the “startle-reflex” which isa known term to depict the infant's inability to control their arms frommoving around while they sleep which often wakes them up. Therefore manywant to swaddle as long as is practical and when they are ready totransition out of swaddling, they often attempt to do this one arm at atime. Third embodiment 300 will assist with this.

The three embodiments are dimensioned and configured so they functionsas described. The actual dimensions of the swaddling accessory are adesign option. Typical dimensions for the first embodiment are 15 cm (6in) height and 70 cm (23.5) length; however, these dimensions can vary,depending on the size of the infant using the swaddling accessory. Theshape of the swaddling accessory can also vary as long as it functionsas described herein. Other removable attaching mechanisms may be usedinstead of the hook and loop means such as buckles or snaps. A knittedfabric of the swaddling accessory works well when also used as thematerial for a companion swaddling cloth; however, other fabrics mayalso be used. Several different sizes of swaddling accessories may beused to accommodate the infant from birth until a swaddling accessory isno longer used. The swaddling accessory can also be used in certainsituations without a swaddling cloth; for example in a doctor's officeto secure the infant's arms during an exam. The elongate flexiblematerial my be made from on or more pieces of material that are attachedtogether by attachment means such as gluing, or stitching.

The disclosure presented herein describes three embodiments of theinvention. These embodiments are to be considered as only illustrativeof the invention and not a limitation of the scope of the invention.Various permutations, combinations, variations, and extensions of theseembodiments are considered to fall within the scope of this invention.Therefore, the scope of this invention should be determined withreference to the claims and not just by the embodiments presentedherein.

1. A swaddling accessory for wrapping an infant that secures theinfant's arms snugly to the infant's torso, the infant having a firstarm, a second arm, an infant back and a torso, the swaddling accessorycomprising: an elongate flexible material having a longitudinal axis anda vertical axis, the vertical axis partitioning the elongate flexiblematerial into a first wing and a second wing; the elongate flexiblematerial having permanently attached at least one pair of removablyattaching means; the elongate flexible material being sized andconfigured so that: when the infant's back is placed on the elongateflexible material with the longitudinal axis of the elongate flexiblematerial being traverse to the torso; the first wing of the elongateflexible material being positioned between the first arm and the torso,and then positioned above and over the first arm, and then positionedaway from the torso; the second wing of the elongate flexible materialbeing positioned between the second arm and the torso, and thenpositioned above and over the second arm, and then positioned away fromthe torso; and then the first wing and the second wing being secured atthe infant back using the removably attachment means; wherein theswaddling accessory secures the infant's arms snugly to the torso. 2.The swaddling accessory of claim 1 wherein the removably attachmentmeans is comprised of at least one hook component and at least one loopcomponent comprising a hook and loop pair.
 3. The swaddling accessory ofclaim 1 being dimensioned and configured so that a swaddling cloth maybe put on the infant over the swaddling accessory when the swaddlingaccessory is securing the infant's arms snugly to the torso.
 4. A methodfor securing an infant's arms snugly to the infant's torso, the infanthaving a first arm, a second arm, an infant back and a torso, the methodcomprising the steps of: a. providing an elongate flexible materialhaving a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis, the vertical axispartitioning the elongate flexible material into a first wing and asecond wing, the elongate flexible material having permanently attachedat least one pair of removably attaching means; b. positioning theinfant back on the elongate flexible material with the longitudinal axisof the elongate flexible material being traverse to the torso; c.positioning the first wing of the elongate flexible material between thefirst arm and the torso, then positioning the first wing above and overthe first arm, and then positioning the first wing away from the torso;d. positioning the second wing of the elongate flexible material betweenthe second arm and the torso, then positioning the second wing above andover the second arm, and then positioning the second wing away from thetorso; e. securing the first wing and the second wing at the infant backusing the means for removably attaching the elongate flexible material;wherein the swaddling accessory secures the infant's arms snugly to thetorso.
 5. A swaddling accessory for wrapping an infant that secures theinfant's arms snugly to the infant's torso, the infant having a firstarm, a second arm, an infant back and a torso, the swaddling accessorycomprising: one or more pieces of material, the one or more pieces ofmaterial comprising an elongate flexible material having a longitudinalaxis and a vertical axis, the vertical axis partitioning the elongateflexible material into a first wing and a second wing; the elongateflexible material having permanently attached at least one pair ofremovably attaching means; the elongate flexible material with theremovably attachment means is sized and configured such that when theelongate flexible material passes around the infant back, the first wingis threaded between the first arm and the torso, the second wing isthreaded between the second arm and the torso, and the first wing andthe second wing are secured at the infant back using at least one pairof removably attachable means; then the elongate flexible materialsecures the infant's arms snugly at the torso.
 6. The swaddlingaccessory claim 5 being dimensioned and configured so that a swaddlingcloth may be put on the infant when the swaddling accessory is securingthe infant's arms snugly to the torso.
 7. The swaddling accessory ofclaim 5 being dimensioned and configured so that the elongate flexiblematerial may be used by a health care provider by assisting in theexamination of the infant.
 8. The swaddling accessory of claim 5 whereinthe elongate flexible material additionally comprises a third hookcomponent attached near the second end on the elongate flexible materialfront such that the elongate flexible material may be wrapped on theinfant to secure one arm and leave the other arm free.
 9. The swaddlingaccessory of claim 5 wherein the elongate flexible material is comprisedof a single piece of material.
 10. The swaddling accessory of claim 5wherein the elongate flexible material is comprised of at least twopieces of material wherein the pieces of material are removablyattached.
 11. The swaddling accessory of claim 5 wherein the elongateflexible material is comprised of at least two pieces of materialwherein the pieces of material are permanently attached.
 12. Theswaddling accessory of claim 5 wherein the elongate flexible materialhaving an elongate flexible material front, an elongate flexiblematerial back, a first end and second end, the removably attaching meansis comprised of: a first loop component positioned near the first end onthe elongate flexible material front; a first hook component positionednear the first end on the elongate flexible material back; a second hookcomponent positioned on the elongate flexible material back near thesecond end; and a second hook component positioned on the elongateflexible material back passing through the vertical axis; the elongateflexible material, the first hook component, the second hook component,the first loop component and the second loop component being sized andconfigured such that when the elongate flexible material is positionedon the infant, then the elongate flexible material secures the infant'sarms snugly to the torso.
 13. The swaddling accessory of claim 12wherein the first hook component removably attaches to the second loopcomponent, and the second hook component removably attaches to thesecond loop component thereby accommodating an infant of moderate size.14. The swaddling accessory of claim 12 wherein the first loop componentremovably attaches to the second hook component thereby accommodating aninfant of small size.